10-20 Nitrates in my tank

[Mike Olson]

for the last 4 weeks I have been getting readings of approx 15 of nitrates in my reef tank. the level has stayed constant. I pulled out some anthelia about 10 days ago...stunk really bad! I have a 3-4 inch live sand bed and a 10g refugium with another 3 inch live sand bed and assortment of caulerpa. Everything in the tank seems to be doing great...so I am a little perplexed as to why it has not dropped since I pulled out the Anthelia I think that another issue could be that I got a new tunze 230/3 skimmer three weeks ago...and I am just now starting to get foam in the cup ( fooling around with it too much instead of letting the process start ) I have never had nitrate readings since I cured my rock over eight months ago. I also have a bubble tip anenome that lives in the back of my tank...went there after a week in front. Hes been in my tank for 4 mos. He does not look as nice as he did when I got him...but his mouth looks good...he eats and my maroon brings him food. He(or she) gets some light and has even grown...this anenome is the only question mark I have in the tank as far as health goes. I am doing a 25 gal water change tomorrow to see if the nitrates drop...If I didnt test...I would swear that all was well in Mike reef! Could an anenome slowly die and cause nitrates to rise enough that my sand bed ,caulerpa wouldnt keep up, or maybe it was just the anthelia build up combined with no skimming the last 3 weeks...any suggestions?